Signal flare



Jan. 2, 1951 G, T, HARK|N$ 2,536,177

SIGNAL FLARE Filed March 9, 19/19 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /5 fg Elz /El za 1 Z? |l||| 5 15 'HH 'I' jc? I' Zfi ffj-Z' G. T. HARKlNs 2,536,177

SIGNAL FLARE Juan. z, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1949 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED sTA TEszlliz'l'r'iai SIGNAL FLRE vGeorge T. Harkins, Wichita; Kane., assig'mr to Miro-Flex Company, Inc.,-

Kansas This invention' relates 'to portable reflecting. signal fiares of the type used on highways by mo-l torists in emergencies; The fiares have reflecting lenses which are' visible at long distances when properly placed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting base for the lens frame which forms a protective housing when in closed position and a strong support for holding the lenses in proper upright position when opened into extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting base in which one or both of the closure members is divided longtudinally, so that the parts may form legs which may be spread and form a wider base for the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved pivotal connections between the closure members and the lens-supporting frame. Also, rubber pads are used which afford inside cushions to prevent rattling and scratching of the lenses when the device is in closed position, and to provide outside friction grips for the supporting base when it is in extended position.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in closed position; Fig. 2, -a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3, a Vertical sectional view of the device in extended position; Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a plan View of the device in extended position; Fig. 7, a Vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 1-1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated -at line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment illustrated, an upwardly extending frame H] is formed by a metal channel which extends around the edges of four refiecting lenses which are arranged back to back. The frame is gripped together at its center by a nut and bolt |2 on which is provided a U-shaped perforate bracket 13, to hold the staff of a signal fiag when the device is used in daylight. The frame 10 is mounted on a hinge-base member 13 which is in the form of an openbottom box having a pair of top openings Ill through which the ends of the frame I D extend. The end portions of the frame IO, and also the member |3, are impaled by a shaft |5 which may be in the form of a long rivet.

a corporationqf A pair of tray-shapedf'ctosure embers IS and, l'l 'are pivotally connected to ea'ch otl'ier'btff;v means of upwardly extending. ears 18 which are also impaled by the ,rivet `|.5. fiPreferablyL the contacting faces oftheears' are serrated .to increase their yield'ing frictional resistance to turning. The edges of the closure members are in the form of stepped fianges |9 which are brought into abutting relationship and fit around the lens frame when the device is closed. The faces of the closure members are provided with U-shaped slots which are filled with short lengths of rubber hose 20 which provide inside cushions for the lens frame when in closed position, and outside friction grips when the device is in extended positions, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The pads are V particularly useful in preventing slipping when the device is placed on an icy surface and subjected to considerable wind pressure.

The closure member has a head portion 2| which is pivotally connected by its ears |8 to the rivet l5. It also has two'complementary parts 22 which extend under an offset portion 23 of the head member 2| and are pivotally connected to the head member by means of rivets 24. The header member is also provided with slots 25 which are engaged by loose rivets 26 which limit the spreading movement of the legs, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the closure member IB may be constructed in the same manner as the divided closure member l'l, if desired, but it has been found in practice that one set of spreadable legs to increase the width of the supporting base is generally sufficient.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a portion of each of the closure members IS and I'l is struck'upwardly at 21, to form an upwardly extending stop or abutment 28, to engage the lower portion of the hinge-base |3 and hold the lens frame in vertical position when the device is opened into extended position, as shown in Fig. 3. In using the device, it is. merely necessary to swing the closure members from closed position, shown in Fig. 2, to extended position, shown in Fig. 3, and turn the leg members 22 outwardly, as indicated by the dottedposition in Fig. 6. The device is then placed fon thezground with the lenses arranged at right angles .to the direction in which the signal is to be given. The device may be closed up by reversing these movements.

The foregoi'ng detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood there- \.J from, for some. modications will be obvious to those skille'd in the art.

I claim: v r i 1. A signal fiare comprising'an upwardly extending frame for refiecting'-1enses having a hinge-base; and a pair of tray-haped' closure members pivotally connectedatone end to said hinge-base and to eachrother to form a housing for said frame' when turned ,together and a supporting basefor the frame when` opened into extended position, one of said clvosure members being divided longitudinally intotwo parts which are pivotally connected for .sprading movement fofuthe support- -from each other so that the widt ing base may be extended.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the closure members are each providedwith a pair of upwardly extending ears havingj rratedcontacting faces presented towards the ars of the com-- panion closurel member, and a rivetfonns a shaft whichimnales said earsand hinge-base to. form the-pivotal connection between the. three members. i i

r Adevi'ce as specified m'blaimr, m which the divided'closure memberha's ahead portionwhich is pivotally connected to" the hinge-base and companion closure member, the divided two parts form legs which are pivotally connected to said head portion, and said legs each have a pin-andslot connection With the head portion to limit their spreading movement from each other.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the closure members are each provided with rubberlike pads which extend through said members and form inside cushionsv for the: lensv frame when in closed position and outside friction grips orthe supporting base when in extended position.

GEORGE T. HARKINS.

BEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,908340 Greist et al .May 16, 1933 2,235280 Carver -f Mar. 1'8, 1941, 2,34l,065 White` Feb. 8; 1944 2,436298 Gunderson Feb. 17, 1948 2520236 Carver Aug. 29, 1950 

